Hazzan Abraham Beniso was born in Gibraltar, on January 21, 1923. During World War ІІ he was evacuated to London where he lived for thirteen years all. He studied at Jews College of the University of London obtaining a Teachers’ Diploma. During his stay in London, he was appointed cantor at the Bevis Marks and Lauderdale Road Spanish and Portuguese synagogues. He studied singing at the London College of Music and later accepted to the Guildhall School of music where he studied under the famous baritone Reinhold Gherhardt of the Vienna State Opera.
Hazzan Beniso standing at the entrance of the Nefusot Yehudah Synagogue
After returning to Gibraltar, he continued to lead his congregation Nefutsot Yehuda as cantor and teacher. At the same time, recognized as one of the leading Sephardic cantors of his age, he was invited to appear in concerts and public events (Jewish and non-Jewish) on a worldwide scale. His travels took him to Johannesburg, New York, Caracas, Amsterdam, Spain, Portugal, Copenhagen, London, Manchester, Cardiff, Tangier, Nice and Israel.
He appeared at the Sephardic Cantors Festival in Jerusalem (1974) representing the Spanish-Portuguese tradition. In 1975 he was featured at the 300th anniversary celebrations of the foundation of the great Spanish and Portuguese synagogue at Amsterdam. Mr. Beniso took part in the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London 2001 at which he and Mrs Beniso were introduced to H.R.H the Prince of Wales. In 2004 he performed at the tercentenary celebration concert of the establishment of British rule in Gibraltar together with his grandson, the composer Ariel Lazarus. In 2006 Hazzan Beniso took part in the 350th anniversary of the Jewish resettlement in the UK, where he sung in front of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Hazzan Beniso has also officiated in the presence of other royalties and dignitaries, such as the Duke of Edinburgh, the Dutch princess, the Duke of Braganza and President Mario Suarez (Portugal), Mayor Teddy Kollek, the chief Rabbis of Israel and Great Britain and the Archbishop of Portugal.
Hazzan Beniso also recorded extensively for research and educational purposes only, generously sharing his knowledge with scholars and young colleagues. His first recording of Sephardic liturgical melodies was made in 1950 in London, on a famous production by John Levy. Subsequently he recorded for the Israel Broadcasting Authority, the National Sound Archives of the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, Renanot – Institute of Jewish Music in Jerusalem as well as in London and Manchester.
Until the last months of his life Hazzan Beniso continued to conduct regular services, ceremonies, and serving the communal needs of the Jewish community in Gibraltar. His son and grandsons continue to carry his heritage, as well as many of his students and followers around the world.
See also on the JMRC website the project on the liturgical music of the Gibraltar synagogues.
